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Hidden Sweetness. 



"Oh, when shall it be fully granted me to see how sweet Thou art, 
my Lord God ! " — Thomas a Kempis. 



By MARY BRADLEY. 

E\)z Iillustrations 

FROM DRAWINGS BY DOROTHY HOLROYD. 



■'" IJO 



'OCT 17 188! ) 



BOSTON: 

ROBERTS BROTHERS. 

1886. 



\ 






Copyright, 1S85, 
By Roberts Brothers. 



©nibcrsita ^rcsB: 
John Wilson and Son, Cambridge. 




Behold ! I show you a mystery. — 1 Cor. xv. 5L 



TO 



ALICE, IN HEAVEN. 



" Hast thou forgot 
The love wherewith we loved of old ? " 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

The Hidden Sweetness 11 

A Canticle of Spring 13 

" My Times are in Try Hand " 16 

In Darkness IS 

In the Sunshine 20 

The Precedent 28 

My Grape-Vine 25 

His Advent 29 

The Song in the Dark 31 

An Eastern Story 34 

The Example 37 

Comforted 40 

Summer Winds 44 

The King's Advent 46 

In Silence 49 

"Thy Law" 51 

The Eirefly 54 

Reclaimed 55 

The Mystery 56 

Angels' Wings 60 

Returning , 62 



Hist of Illustrations. 



PAGE 

Dedication — " Behold, I show you a mystery " iv 

"Hidden Sweetness" — Blackberry Blossoms 11 

Heading for " Canticle " — Daffodils 13 

FooTPiECE FOR " Canticle " — Apple-blossoms 15 

Heading for "My Times" — Violets IG 

Heading for " In Darkness " — Pussy-willows and Alder-tassels IS 

FooTPiECE FOR " In Darkness " — Pussy-willows .... 19 

Heading for " In the Sunshine " — Snowdrops 20 

Heading for "The Precedent" — Hepatica 23 

"My Grape Vine" — Clover 25 

Heading for " His Advent " — Lilies 29 

Heading for "The Song in the Dark" — The Singing Bird 31 

Footpiece for " The Song in the Dark " — Nest .... 33 

" An Eastern Story " — Myrtle 34 

Heading for " The Example " — Clover 37 

Heading for "Comforted" — Bird 40 

Footpiece for "Comforted" — Nest 43 



X List of Illustrations. 



PAGE 



FooTPiECE FOR " SuMMER WiNDS " — Daisies 44 

Heading for "The King's Advent" — Iris 46 

Heading for " In Silence " — Wild Roses 49 

Heading for "Thy Law" — Narcissus 51 

Heading for "The Firefly" — Hawthorn 54 

Heading for "Reclaimed" — Pansies 55 

Heading for "The Mystery" — August Lilies 56 

Heading for " Angels' Wings " — Holly 60 

" Returning " — Dandelion Puffs 62 

Nest — Finis 64 



Hi. 



THE 

HIDDEN SWEETNESS. 

"Oh when shall it be fully 
granted nie to see how sweet 
Thou art, my Lord God ?" 

Imitation of Christ. 

We need no special grace to see 
The sweetness that around us 
lies 
In homes where happy children be, 
In birds and brooks and summer 
skies ; 
Even when sorrow folds her wings 
In dumb persistence by our 
hearth, 
Still we can feel what blessed 
things 
Make beautiful the earth, 



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12 The Hidden Sweetness. 

And thrill responsive to the sense 
Of every lovely influence. 

But ah ! how faintly we are stirred 

By things divine, whose voices seem 
As ineffectnally heard 

As voices in a dream ! 
We praise Thee with our lips, and yet 

The while we cry, " How sweet Thou art ! " 
It is as though a seal were set 

Upon our eyes and heart. 
The sweetness that we might possess 
We see not, and we feel still less. 

Lord, unto whom our dull desires 

Are known, and every hindering sin, 
Kindle anew the fervent fires 

That ought to glow our souls within; 
The sorrowful days are here again 

When Thou wert in the lonesome wild, 
In prayer, in fasting, and in pain 

For us unreconciled. 
Give to us now, Christ, to see 
How wholly sweet thy love can be! 



A CANTICLE OF SPRING. 



" all ye Green Things upon the 
earth, bless ye the Lord; praise 
Him, and magnify Him forever!" 




O GREEN iipspringing grass, your 

tender freshness spreading 
By many a narrow pass where 
way-worn feet are treading: 
lightly waving trees., whose swelling 
leaf-buds render 
Undoubted promises of the full summer's 
splendor : 
golden daffodils, whose lovely sunlit faces 
Brighten the barren hills with unexpected 
graces : 



14 A Canticle of Spring. 

all ye blossoms set the woods and meadows over, 
Windflower and violet, and columbine and clover, — 
Bless ye the Lord on high, by field and fell and river, 
Praise Him and magnify His holy name forever ! 

Now when the budding spring escapes from winter's 

durance, 
Hope hath its flowering, and faith its sweet assurance : 
How shall our hearts be sad when Nature's face rejoices, 
And earth and air are glad with her tumultuous 

voices ? 
Ears that His message seek and doubt not in possessing. 
To them the winds shall speak in undertones of blessing ; 
And to the seeing eyes His wondrous works beholding. 
No little bird that flies, no small green thing un- 
folding, 
But doth His love express who shall our souls deliver, 
Whose holy name we bless and magnify forever ! 

Praise Him, O soul of mine, nor ever cease from 

praising, 
Though olive-tree and vine be blighted in the raising; 
Though flood and frost and fire assail me in one 

morning. 
And though my heart's desire shall perish without 

warning ! 



A Canticle of Spring. 



15 



Still shall His rivers flow, the heavens declare His 

glory, 
Still shall His green things grow, the winds repeat 

their story ; 
And I who sit to-day beneath the cloud of 

sorrow, 
And see no opening way to sunshuie for 

the morrow, 
Still by His mighty word upheld for 

fresh endeavor, 
Will magnify the Lord, and bless His 

name forever ! 





"MY TIMES ARE IN THY HAND." 



I NEED not care 
If days to come be dark or fair, 

If the sweet summer brings delight 
Or bitter winter chills the air. 



No thought of mine 
Can penetrate the deep design, 

That forms afar, through bud and bloom, 
The purple clusters of the vine. 

I do not know 
The subtle secret of the snow. 

That hides away the violets 
Till April teaches them to blow. 



'■''My Times are in Thy Hand'' 17 

Enough for me 
Their tender loveliness to see, 

Assured that little things and large 
Fulfil God's purpose equally. 

How this is planned, 
Or that, I may not understand: 

I am content, my God, to know 
That all my times are in Thy hand. 

Whatever share 
Of loss, or loneliness, or care 

Falls to my lot, it cannot be 
More than Thy will for me to bear. 

And none the less, 
Whatever sweet thing comes to bless 

And gladden me. Thou art its source, — 
The sender of my happiness. 

Add this to me. 
With other gracious gifts so free, 

That I may never turn my face 
In any evil hour from Thee ; 

Nor on the sand 
Of shifting faith and feeling stand ; 

But wake and sleep with equal trust. 
Knowing my times are in Thy hand. 





IN DAEKNESS. 



Oh for the seeing eye, 

Oh for the hearing ear, 
To know, though bitter blasts 
go by. 
Though stormy clouds are in the sky, 
That God, my God, is near! 

Darkness and sore dismay 
Have compassed me about: 
As one who in a lonesome way 
Longs for the breaking of the day 
To put his fears to rout, — 

Yet knows that day, alas ! 

Will only show more plain 
The rugged road he has to pass. 
The frowning rocks, the black morass, 

The danger and the pain, — 



In Darkness. 



19 



So I, from hour to hour, 

A dreary path have trod: — 
Oh, but to feel the quickening power 
That in the sunshine or the shower, 
Still draws me up to God! 

Give me a little space. 

Lord of my life, to see 
The tender sweetness of Thy face; 
And suffer in this darksome place 

One gleam of light to be. 

Sorrow and loss and pain 

Have been my frequent share, 

Yea, and will be my share again; 

But shall I wring my hands in vain 
For blank, unanswered prayer? 

Give me the seeing eye; 

Give me the hearing ear; 
And with Thy comfort satisfy 
The yearning heart, till liy and by 
I find my Saviour here 







/■'J 



ti^l. 



IN THE SUNSHINE. 



/ 



/ 



But yesterday, in 
dank and sodden 
plight, 
My neighbor's garden lay 
beneath the rain ; 
"f The flowers, storm-beaten, hid 
their bloom from sight, 
"^ And not a rose-bud showed its tender 

stain, 
Nor in the sky was one faint streak of 
blue 

To charm my wistful eyes the long day 
through. 



Sadly I heard the sighing wind complain, 
The melancholy drops fall from the eaves ; 
And sick at heart, with an unutt;ered pain, 
I looked out on the world of wet o;reen leaves, 



In the Stmshine. 21 

Longing for night to blot it all away, 

And cheat me with sweet dreams of a new day. 

But when night came I paced the lonesome room, 
Still with impatient murmurs on my tongue; 

"0 heart," I cried, "why should it be thy doom 
With such a sordid sorrow to be wruno- 

And wherefore is it that for me and mine 

Nor roses bloom, nor happy sunbeams shine? 

"Sweet may the dawning of a new day be; 

But what delight is it for one who goes 
In shaded paths and flowerless, to see 

His neighbor's garden blossom like a rose ? 
No garden-ground is mine ; no joy begun 
Wakes to fulfilment with the rising sun." 

To-day, as from my window's height I lean, 

To see my neighbor's roses far below, 
I wonder how such envious thoughts and mean 

(That shame me now) found ever room to grow, 

So light of heart, so wholly glad am I 
At the mere sight of God's fair earth and sky ! 

Only the same world it was yesterday, — 
The care, the grief, the burden, all remain; 



22 In the Stmshine. 

Yet their dull discontent has slipped away; 
The sun is shining where before was rain ! 
And in its wholesome light my heart's unrest 
Turns into faith that all is for the best. 

Since God hath willed that some shall dwell at ease. 
And others shall know hardness, this is sure: 

The lot that fits each nature He foresees, 

And wherefore murmur when we must endure ? 

Some day His loving wisdom will be plain 

As the sweet sunshine following after rain. 




THE 

PRECEDENT 



In stately limitations set 

Some lives flow onward, calm and pure, 
AY bile others all the strain and fret 

Of shifting currents must endure. 
They who against the cruel tide 

Forever seem to toil in vain, 
And with the sunshine close beside, 

Stand in the shadow and the rain, — 
What wonder if they bear their part 
Sometimes with but a sorry heart? 



The flesh is weak, and sore dismayed; 

The spirit falters in its trust: 
The One who seems so slow to aid — 

Are all His dealings kind and just? 
Is it a father's part to see 

One child outside, forlornly cold, 
The while he shelters tenderly 

Another in his garment's fold ? 



24 The Precedent. 

"This is no loving father's care!" 
They cry out, sullen with despair. 

Who shall explain the weary ways 

So many patient feet have trod ? 
Or who account for the delays 

And dumb indifference of God ? 
Not I, indeed — I only know 

Christ had not where to lay his head; 
He suffered hunger long ago, 

And pain, and grief uncomforted ; 
No creature lives and dies forlorn, 
But Christ his utmost woe has borne. 

And if the Father hid His face 

From him forsaken, cannot we 
Abide in darkness for a space, 

Nor wring our hands impatiently ? 
"Touched with the feeling of our pain,"- 

O tenderest Heart that ever beat! 
Bend down to comfort us again, — 

The hearts that tremble at thy feet; 
And let us find in thee indeed 
Help for the saddest hour of need. 



MY GEAPE-VINE. 



SiGiiiXG I said, when warm west winds were blowincr 
" The gracious summer has no gifts for me ; 

I shall not see her wildwood 
blossoms growinof 
On vine or tree ; 

" I shall not wander where 
her purple clover, 
And where her daisies make 
the meadows gay, 
Nor be aware of sweet airs 
wafted over 
Her new-mown hay ; 




26 My Grape-Vine. 

" I shall not hear, for all my soul rejoices 

In every cadence of the tender strain, 
The mingled music of her many voices ; 
Its low refrain 



" Of droning bees, and locusts sharply shrilling, 

And brooks that murmur to their tuneful fall ; 
Nor yet the rapture of her bird-songs thrilling 
High over all. 

"I that delight in shadowy woodland places 

The stony pavements of the town must tread, 
And see the blue of heaven in measured spaces 
Above my head. 

" While all the summer's bloom and lavisli beauty 

Are spread afar for other eyes to see, 
Shut in by city-walls the path of duty 
Is marked for me." 

I did not know — faint heart and unbelieving ! — 

The while I murmured at a needful thing, 
What dear delight, to shame me for such grieving. 
My vine would bring. 



My Grape- Vine. 27 

Betwixt the stones it had to grow and flourish, — 

The stubborn stones that barely let it pass, 
Nor left enough of ejarden-mould to nourish 
One blade of grass. 



Yet how it grew — so tall and fair and greenly ! 
And all its liberal leaves and clusters spread 
In such luxuriance, one forgot how meanly 
Its roots were fed. 

Each wandering wind that made the young leaves shiver 

Stirred tender odors, delicately sweet ; 
And when the July air was all a-quiver 
With fervent heat, 

"VVliat coolness lingered in my vine's embraces, 

What lovely shadows wavered to and fro ! 

Making me dream of woods, and breezy places 

Where wild-flowers grow. 

All sumro.er long, — until the lamentation 

Of sad November stripped the branches bare, — 
My grape-vine brought me gracious compensation 
For many a care. 



28 My Grape- Vine. 

" Behold," it mutely said, " my green profusion, 
Behold the ripening clusters where they hang. 
And bear in mind the prison-house seclusion 
From whence they sprang." 

Now wintry winds around me are complaining. 

And naked to the trellis clings the vine ; 
But its suggestions, comforting, sustaining, 
Shall still be mine. 



I may not have such blossoms fair for showing, 

Or perfect fruit ; but this at least I see, — 
That narrow limits need not bar from growing 
The vine — or me ! 




HIS ADVENT. 



" The king is coming ! strew the way 

With branching pahus and lily-llowers 
Let banners wave in proud array, 
And mirth and music crowd the day 
Through all its rosy hours." 

So spake the people long ago; 

But when indeed the King had come, 
There was no rushing to and fro, 
No trumpet-call or pompous show, 

And every voice was dumb. 

For lo, within a manger-bed 

He lay, a little naked child; 
No glory was about him shed 
Save that above his crownless head 
A vircjin mother smiled. 



30 His Advent. 

What would the world of such a kmg? 

Away with him ! their high-priests cried ; 
Nor ceased until — ah, cruel thiuo; ! — 
An eager crowd came hurrymg 

To see him crucified. 

High-priest and populace did meet 
With one accord their king to slay: 

They pierced his hands ; they nailed his feet ; 

There never was so sad and sweet 
A sight before that day. 

For he who hung upon the tree 

With his last breath their sin forgave, 
Even while they gibed him scornfully — 
"Others he saved, forsooth, but see! 
Himself he cannot save." 

Ah, King divine ! whose worth indeed 
The world unworthy never knew, — 
Dost Thou still live to intercede 
For creatures blind to their own need, 
Who know not what they do ? 

The wise and learned answer nay ! 

But babe and suckling let me be, 
Content to know no more than they, 
If so I can but find the way 

O King, that leads to Thee ! 




THE SONG IN THE DARK. 



I HEAKD a little bird sing out one morning 

While yet the darkness overspread the sky, 
And not a single streak of rose gave warning 
That day was nigh. 

It sang with such a sweet and joyful clearness, 

The silence piercing with a note so fine, 
That I was thrilled with sudden sense of nearness 
To Love divine. 



•' weary heart " (it seemed to utter), " hearken ! 

God sends a message to you in my song : 
The day is coming, though the shadows darken, 
And nirfht is long. 



32 The Song in tJie Dark. 

" God sees your eyelids heavy — not with slumber ; 

The sorrowful tears that make their brightness dim, 
And all your patient prayers no man can number, 
Are known to Him. 

" The day shall come, your darkness dispossessing : " 

And while the bird sang, on my eyelids prest 
Soft weights of sleep, the weary brain caressing 
To happy rest. 

I slept as children sleep, tired out with crying, — 

God knows, not I, when I had slept before ! 
I waked to find the blessed sunshine lying 
Along the floor. 

And in its gracious light to see returning 

The face of one that was the world to me, 
The face my heart with desolate grief and yearning 
Had ached to see. 

The day had come indeed ! O sweetest singer, 
The song you sung me in the dark was true, 
And would that I could be as swift a bringer 
Of joy to you ! 

Your nest should rock in greenest branches, truly. 

And there your shy brown mate and downy brood 
Should chirp to you, and spread their winglets duly. 
Nor lack for food. 



The Song in the Dark. 



33 



No cruel sportsman ever should l)eset you, 

No sudden tempest ever cause affright, 
Nor any ill that birds are heir to, fret you 
By day or night. 

Vain wish, alas ! and valueless completely ; 

For whether it was blackbird, wren, or lark, 
Or silver-throated thrush that all so sweetly 
Sang in the dark, — 

I never knew. You never more came near me, 

Yet surely I may leave you to His care 
Whose tender pity sent your song to cheer me 
In my despair. 





AN EASTEKN STOEY. 



Once in the hush of eventide, 
Wlien daylight tasks were put 

aside, 
And dew and coohiess after heat 
Made the sweet stiUness doubly 
sweet, 
The Master walked in Galilee; 
His footsteps followed by those three 
Who afterward on Olivet 
Watched with Him in His agony. 
They had no dread foreboding yet 
Of that dark hour; the world was 

bright 
With sunset splendor; and its light 
Seemed in their peaceful hearts to 

dwell, — 
Till suddenly a slant ray fell 
Upon an object in their path 
That stirred up quick, unreasoning 
wrath. 



An Eastern Story. 35 

A dead dog, hideous in decay, 
Mangled, and foul with blood and dust, 
Prone in the trodden high-road lay — 
A sight, hi deed, to rouse disgust. 
And the disciples, justified 
By their offended senses, vied 
Each with the other to express 
Scorn of the creature's loathsomeness ; 
Nor, till at length the Master spake. 
Were either of them moved to make 
One little pitiful pause, wherein 
Some kindlier utterance might have been. 
He, listening, silent for a space. 
Bent down to the disfigured head. 
As one who seeks some hidden grace: 
Then, with a calm, uplifted face. 
And something in His sorrowful eyes 
That caught their hearts up with surprise, 
"Pearls are not half so white," He said, 
"As the dog's teeth," 

And went His way. 
Whereat the three in mute dismay 
Glanced at each other. Sudden shame 
Reddened their brows ; and as a flame 
Leaps to the wind, the kindling fire 
Of penitence and swift desire 



An Eastern Story. 

Leaped in their breasts with one accord, 

And proved itself in deed, not word. 

With willing hands that put aside 

All the reluctance of their pride, 

They dragged the dead dog from the mire 

Wherein it lay, to a green place ; 

Where, with strewn leaves and branches rent 

From the thick olives, its disgrace 

They hid from future passers-by. 

Then eagerly, with look askance 

That dreaded, yet besought His glance. 

They to their Lord again drew nigh. 

To find His brief displeasure spent. 

And in His gracious smile to meet 

A recompense exceeding sweet. 

Sweet is the hidden truth that lies 
Too deep, perhaps, for careless eyes, 
In the old story. For who knows — 
Since a dog's teeth His praise could win — 
What inward grace may be in those 
Lost souls that out of reach of care, 
Beyond our pity and our prayer. 
Seem dead in trespasses and sin ? 




THE EXAMPLE. 



Haply along life's weary ways, 
Thickset with uncongenial tasks. 

Some overweighted toiler stays 

His hand from labor, while he asks : 

"Wherefore shall I these burdens bear 

That others ought, at least, to share? 

" I, since the day's march was begun, 

Have spent my strength, nor turned aside 

From any service to be done, 

Nor grudged my pleasures, self-denied; 

Yea, I have even counted gain, 

For the work's sake, my loss and pain. 



"But now my soul is vexed; for why 
Should duty have no law for these 



38 The Example. 

Who with averted looks pass by, 

Or sit with folded hands at ease ? 
Why should I suffer more than they 
The heat and burden of the day ? " 

How many a spirit fretted sore 
AVith the world's cold indifference, 

Has turned such questions o'er and o'er. 
Still haunted with the restless sense 

Of doubt and wondering distrust: 

Would these things be if God were just ? 

Ah me ! the ways of God with men, 
No man that lives can find them out ; 

Who grasps at things beyond his ken. 
Is tossed on shoreless seas about. 

Yet in the thickest of the night. 

For eyes that see there shall be light. 

What time we nurse our discontent — 
Eather, instead, should we recall 

How once in servants' guise He went 
Who was the Master of us all ; 

Nor any work whereby was wrought 

The Father's will, too irksome thought. 



The Example. 39 

Need any be disquieted 

Whose hearts tliis memory enclose ? 
Who follows where the Lord hath led, 

What matter is it where he goes ? 
For working with Him side by side, 
The meanest task is glorified. 




COMFOETED. 



Theee was a time when Grief with me 
Kept close and tireless company : 
A new and most unwelcome guest, 
He sat beside me day and night, 
And robbed my pillow of its rest, 
And spoiled the sunshine of its light, 
And tilled the hours of night and day 
With an unspeakable dismay. 
I could not part with G-rief, alas ! 
For he had "taken up the room" 
Of one whose innocent fair face 
Was hid in an untimely tomb. 
Grief still " the absent child " expressed. 
And did her winsome ways repeat. 
And torture me with all the sweet 
Lost loveliness I had possessed. 



Comforted. 41 

And so we two walked side by side — 
No friends, indeed, but yet allied 
In such wise that I could but choose 
To let him fill my empty arms ; 
Wherefore all bright things that did use 
To bring me pleasure, lost their charms. 
The dawn rose red for me in vain, 
And the soft patter of the rain 
On April leaves, awoke no sense 
Of its old gladsome influence. 
There was no beauty in blue skies, 
Or greening earth, for my dull eyes ; 
Though once, if but a little bird 
Above its new-made nest should sing. 
With sudden rapture I was stirred; 
And the whole wonder of the spring 
One purple violet could bring. 

One night, with Grief, I closed my eyes. 
And had no other thought Init he 
Would waken with me presently. 
But Grod is gracious ; God is wise 
Beyond our knowledge. In the dim 
Hushed hours betwixt the darlc and light 
There came a messenger from Him 
That of my Grief bereft me quite. 



42 Comforted. 

I know not how to paint the sight 
That blest my eyes, or make you see 
The vision that was sent to me. 
For oh ! it was the child that came, 
And called me softly by my name, 
And clasped me with the little white 
Warm hands that clung to me of old, 
And nestled in my garment's fold. 

A dream, you think ? Well, may be so ; 

But none the less God's messenger; 

For while I lay, — afraid to stir, 

Lest the sweet dream should from me go, — 

The child, that only uttered here 

Such inarticulate trills and coos 

As nestling birds and babies use, 

Began to speak strange words and clear : 

Strange words, but clear; which, should I try 

To put in speech of mine again, 

It would be effort spent in vain. 

This was a language of the sky. 

Which, just for once, I understood. 

Because, my God, Thou wert so good, 

And suffered one sad heart to see 

How narrow-souled and dull we are, 

That make our selfish love a bar 

Betwixt these little ones and Thee. 



Comforted. 43 

Wliereat — though it was but a dream, 

That vanished ere the east was red — 

The one sad heart was comforted; 

Nor since, do I and sorrow seem 

So fitly mated as before. 

For in my daily tasks once more 

I find content. And little thhigs, — 

The wavering shadows on the wheat. 

The scent of flowers, the whir of wings, — 

Bring back a sense of something sweet. 

As vague, as fair, as sweet as these, 

The vision was that came to me, 

Whose nameless charm the shadow is 

Of something exquisite to be. 

Ah ! when in some unearthly sphere 

Of perfect lo^•e and bliss complete. 

The child and I once more shall meet, 

How like a dream it will appear 

That Grief and I were comrades here ! 




SUMMEE AVINDS. 



Sweet are the summer days that come with tender 

shining, 
Sweet are the wandering winds that visit me repining ; 
The bloom, the song, the grace of all the year 

they capture. 
And fill this desert place with unimagined 

rapture. 

Prisoner of hopeless pain, in lengthening 

chains I languish ; 
Day still renews the strain of 

night's unuttert'd 

anguish ; 




Summer Winds. 45 

I lie beneath His rod, His bolts and bars surround me, 
Yet the sweet winds of God with healing touch have 
found me. 

welcome wind that comes His gracious law fulfilling, 
In you the brown bee hums, the sky-lark's song is 

thrillmg ; 
Voices of wood and field your whispering voice discloses, 
And in your breath revealed I find the summer's roses. 

They have not lent their bloom to comfort me more 

nearly. 
And in my silent room no bird has carolled cheerly ; 
Yet while your light caress, wind of Heaven, woos me, 
Nor rose nor singing bird its sweetness doth refuse me. 

Blow through my fevered brain, soft breath, and cool its 

burning ; 
Speak, soothing voice, again, and hush the wild heart's 

yearning ; 
Though in the floods I stand, and deep waves overflow me. 
Show me my Father's hand. His loving-kindness show me. 

Truly I will not doubt that love shall yet avail me, 
My fear I will cast out, nor let despair assail me : 
Blow, summer winds, away the black cloud of repining. 
My heart lies still to-day to feel the tender shining. 



THE KING'S ADVENT. 



" Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King 
cometli unto thee, meek, and sitting U2)on an ass." 




Thus spake the heaven-sent messenger 
To Zion's daughter ; and she heard, 
But laughed to scorn the warning word, 
For what was such a kmg to her? 
" The monarch that hath rule with me, 
Swift she made answer haughtily, 
" Comes in no mean disguise like this ; 
But with a royal retinue, 
And with the pomp and honor due 
Alike to my degree and his. 
Go to ! ye prophets that foretell 
A sovereign so contemptible ! " 



And Zion's daughter, fair and proud. 
Smiled with a bitter smile to hear 



The Kinzs Advent. 

The ignorant tumult of the crowd 
As the meek king foretold drew near. 
"Fit monarch for a rabble rout," 
She spoke disdainful. " Let them shout 
Hosannas now ; full soon their cry 
Will ring as loudly, Crucify ! " 

Came one amidst the gathering throng 

Whose heart had suffered cruel wrong ; 

Whom want and woe had driven to sin. 

Until the tale of life had been 

For many an evil year the same 

Dull round of wretchedness and shame. 

Men gibed at her; and women drew 

Their garments closer, lest the stain 

Of some uncleanness might remain 

From a chance touch. But pressing through, 

Heedless of both, she reached His side, 

And fell upon her knees, and cried, 

"Art thou the King in truth? King! 

Have mercy on a wretched thing, 

Too vile to venture any plea 

Save its exceeding misery ! " 

Men scoffed at her despairing cries, 
And women flashed their virtuous scorn 



48 The Kinzs Adveiit. 



'<i 



At the base creature, woman-born, 

Who shamed their sex. But the King's eyes 

Of all her woful plight took heed 

With searchmg glance. Then tenderly, 

" / am the King in truth," said He ; 

"And whoso cometh unto Me, 

My grace shall answer to his need. 

Go, and fear nothmg." 

And she went. 
Lost ill a strange and sweet content 
That took no thought of day or night. 
Or henceforth any murmurs spent 
Upon their dearth of world's delight. 
For joy exceeding all the rest 
Was in her sense of peace possessed. 
But Zion's daughter, proud and fair. 
Still waits to see her king advance 
With fitting pomp and circumstance 
Of waving banners, and the blare 
Of trumpets on the startled air ; 
Waits with a vain desire as yet; 
While she whose bitter need was met 
A¥ith His compassion, whose disgrace 
Was blotted out with her despair, 
Dwells in the sunshine of His face, 
And knows the Kins came then and there. 



IN SILENCE, 




No heart will break 
With sorrow hidden for 
love's sake: 
The pain we bear 
i^j^-^^y 111 silence, lest our dear ones share 
Its anguish with a yearning vain 
To comfort us, is blessed pain. 

Eternal snows 

Deepen around the Alpine rose; 

But its sweet bloom 

Makes no betrayal of the gloom 

And bitter rigor of the land 

Wherein its tender buds expand. 



50 In Sile7ice. 

The patient heart 

That bears its heavy cross apart, 

And still makes known 

Its burden unto Christ alone, — 

To this one His sweet Spirit brings 

Most dear and gracious comfortings. 




How can we say, without the condemnation 
Of our own hearts accusing us of wrong, — 
"I love Thy Law; it is my meditation 
The whole day long " ? 

Thy law is pure, and strict to mark offences; 

And we, how lightly into sin we fall! 
By trifles tempted, by ungoverned senses 
Still held in thrall. 

The soul that sinneth — so Thy law declareth — 

Shall surely die; and not a soul is born 
But by inheritance of human nature shareth 
The doom forlorn. 



52 ''Thy Lawr 

Stern law and sad for daily meditation ! 

Not David's love, I tliink, had long endured, 
But for the vision of an expiation 
At last secured. 

With eyes anointed he beheld Thy coming, 

O blessed Christ, and through the ages saw 
The sinless One who, all our sins assuming. 
Fulfilled the law. 

Give to us now, who in these later ages 

Have seen the shining of the sacred star; 
And do possess the joy that seers and sages 
Gazed at afar, — 

Give to us, Lord, the fervent adoration 

For love and justice so divinely blent, 
That shall inspire our daily meditation 
With deep content. 

Not always, even with the satisfaction 

Of its extreme requirement made by Thee, 
Can our weak spirits meet the law's exaction 
And penalty. 

There is so much that baffles comprehension. 

So many hours are darkened with strange pain ; 
And earnest effort fails of its intention. 
And prayer seems vain. 



" Thy LawT 53 

Too often in the shadow of our sorrow 

We murmur at the love that sorrow sends ; 
And question whether any fair to-morrow 
Will make amends. 

Our lives are full of cares and contradictions 

That vex our souls, their need misunderstood ; 
And God, we cry, might spare us these afflictions 
That yield no good. 

Holy One, whose life was not exempted 

From any grief on human nature laid ; 
Be Thou our refuge when our souls are tempted 
And sore dismayed. 

Thou knowest all the foes that do torment us ; 

Convince us of Thy tender sympathy ; 
And of the grace that surely shall preveut us 
Who trust in Thee. 

So shall our hearts grow calm in faith and patience, 
So shall our anxious prayers be turned to praise ; 
And Love Divine make sweet our meditations 
Through all the days. 




THE FIEEFLY. 



Alone at dusk, her dull day's labor done, 

Sat one whose hope was trembling on despair. 

For whom the daylight and the dark were one 
In equal dearth of brightness. Sitting where 

A little strip of turf sun-baked, and bare 

Of bloom or verdure, all her prospect was — 
She saw a sudden glimmer in the grass, 

And lo, a firefly's tiny taper there, 

Twinkling as brightly the scant stubble through 
As if in hedges dewy-sweet it flew. 

Then in her soul a lofty shame was born 
For vain repinings ; and a patient grace, 
Which, like the firefly in the barren place. 

Shall haply shine through all her ways forlorn. 




EECLAIMED. 



She came, whose erring feet had gone astray, 

Whose conscious heart was sore disquieted, 
And trembhng, saw in all its white array 

The table of the Lord before her spread. 

Then swift desire arose, and was outsped 
By swifter memory, bringing blank dismay : 
Abashed, despairing, she had turned away, 

Nor drank the cup, nor tasted of the bread. 
But that when all her fearful soul was stirred 

With overwhelming sense of loss and pain, 
The Master's voice that bade her stay, she heard; 

And there was joy in Heaven once again : 
For henceforth, with His pardon comforted, 
She did but live to follow where He led. 




THE MYSTEEY. 



A SHIP sailed once across the sea 
When summer suns shone brightly ; 

The wind blew fair, the wind blew free, 
She skimmed the waters lightly, 

And not a shadow in the sky 

Gave warning of a danger nigh. 



For many a day she sailed apace 
With favoring wind and weather; 

The Captain wore a smiling face, 
The seamen sang together; 

And all grew gladder day by day. 

Nor dreamed of peril in the way. 



The Mysteiy. 57 

God's will is dark to human eyes, 

And strange His visitations. 
We see and hear in dumb surprise ; 

And men of all the nations 
Have sought, but ever sought in vain, 
His mighty reasons to explain. 

One dies — we say it is God's will ! 

But why or where he goeth, 
Or wdiy another lingers still, 

What living creature knoweth? 
There is no voice from sea or land 
That we can hear and understand. 

And why the ship that braved the shock 

Of billows in mid-ocean, 
Should founder on a sunken rock. 

Amid the sad commotion 
Of shrieks and groans, and frantic prayer, 
Tossed, fruitless, on the empty air, — 

When, had He willed it, one day more 

(One little night and morrow ! ) 
Had brought them scathless to the shore, 

And saved the wide-spread sorrow, — 
What man can answer more than this, 
That nought He does is done amiss ? 



58 The Mysteiy, 

We have to bow beneath His rod 
Who spares not for our crying; 

''Be still, and hiow that I am God," 
His sternly prompt replying. 

Ah, God our Father, can it be 

Tliat this is all we hear from Thee ? 

Not so, for to our sore distress 
This tender message hastens : 

He will not leave you comfortless, 
And whom He loves He chastens. 

Whatever mortal woe betide. 

With this we should be satisfied. 

His ways are past our finding out; 

ISTo passionate resistance, 
No questioning, or angry doubt 

Can ever bridge the distance, 
Or pierce the darkly woven screen 
Our narrow thoughts and His between. 

But whom He loves may well consent 
To bear His love's expression, 

To wait His will and be content 
With holding in possession, 

Though yet he may not use, the key 

That shall unlock all mystery. 



The Mystery. 59 

And whom He loves — Christ, Thy death 

That wrought such expiation 
Gave every soul with human breath 

The right to this relation ! 
Let us endure unto the end, 
And some day we shall comprehend. 




ANGELS' WINGS. 



When summer days were warm, and sweet 

With clover-bloom and ripening wheat, 

We used to lie upon the grass 

Within the flickering shadow spread 

By leafy branches overhead, 

And watch the bright clouds slowly pass. 



They were so white against the blue. 
With such a glory streaming through 
Their silver fleeces, we were sure 
They must, at least, be angels' wings ; 
And the mere fancy of such things 
Kept childish speech and conduct pure. 



Angels Wings. 61 

We must not quarrel, when the skies. 
For all we knew, were full of eyes 
That watched to see if we were good ; 
And sometimes just the sight of one 
White cloud illumined by the sun 
Availed to check an angry mood. 

Now we are women grown, and men. 

That were but careless children then : 

Wise with our realistic lore. 

The shining mystery we explain — 

Only a vapor born of rain ! — 

And dream of angels' wings no more. 

But are we wiser, after all ? 

Haply the world-worn hearts recall, 

With something like a thrill of dread, 

What time the Master undefiled 

" Set in their midst a little child " — 

And what the words were that He said. 

It might — we silently infer — 

It might perhaps be easier 

The kingdom of the Lord to win. 

If still in far blue summer skies 

AVe felt the watching angel eyes 

That kept our childish hearts from sin. 




EETUENING. 



LoED, where Thy many man- 
sions be, 
Hast Thou a little room for 

me, 
Whose restless feet these many 
days 
Strange and forbidden paths have 
trod. 
And wandering in uncertain ways. 
Have missed the way that leads 

to God? — 
Lord, is there any room for me 
Who, sorrowing, would return to 
Thee ? 

Far have I strayed, still tossed 

about 
On fears that would not be cast 

out, 



Returning. 63 

For all the subtle theories 
That men have formed, wherein to find 
For troubled hearts a doubtful ease, 
And freedom for a wilful mind : 
Thy word, once hidden in my breast. 
Too often robbed the night of rest. 

I heard its still small voice above 
All other voices, — not in love 
As in the old sweet days of peace. 
But with a tone of sad complaint: 
"Why art thou swift to seek release 
From easy yoke, and safe restraint? 
False lights are these, and woe betide 
The soul that takes them for its guide!" 

Lord, if I heard, and in despite 

Of warning chose the fair false light, — 

If heedless, I Thy spirit grieved, 

And slighted as an idle tale 

Love such as no man hath conceived, — 

What late repentance can avail ? 

How shall I dare to lift my face 

Once more within Thy holy place ? 

I know not verily, and yet, — 

With doubts perplexed, and fears beset. 



64 



Returning. 



And the sad heart unsatisfied, — 

Lord, I remember what sweet rest 

I did discover at Thy side: 

With yearning not to be expressed 

I long to walk once more with Thee — 

Lord, hast Thou any room for me ? 




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